<p>I'll have to echo cangel as well. DD (hs senior) is a swimmer and diver and the difference between D1 and D3 is sometimes a blurry line as far as times, practices and quality and intensity of program. Yes, there are schools where you are a student first then athlete and then there are the programs where you are there as an athlete. The poster who said look to the NCAA championships for the past few years will give you a clear idea of which schools want what. As that many of the college coaches are also private club coaches, their reputations are well-known throughout their USA Swim And USA Dive region. The strongest regions, the ones with the fastest times and highest scores for dives translates to the D1 and D3 schools as well. For example, USC dive coach is also Trojan dive coach (USA Dive club coach). Carolina coach is a USA Dive coach also. So from traveling to USA Swim/Dive meets a sense of what the coach expects can be gained. And yes, some D3 schools are swim powerhouses as are some elite private universities.</p>
<p>DD has been interviewed by various coaches and visited with them and some made it clear that her intended major would not work with her necessary practice schedule and others were fine with it. Really depends on the coach/program rather than the school itself. Maybe some athletic programs are not as intense even though they maybe at the same school. Again, depends on the sport and respective coach.</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Kat</p>